Chain delivery apparatus for printing or like machines



Oct. 18, 1960 w. F. GOLDING 2,956,805

CHAIN DELIVERY APPARATUS FOR PRINTING OR LIKE MACHINES Filed Feb. 25, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 18, 1960 w. F. GOLDING 2,956,805

CHAIN DELIVERY APPARATUS FOR PRINTING 0R LIKE MACHINES Filed Feb. 25, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 2: i F II y 7 0 //J!/ wi United States Patent CHAIN DELIVERY APPARATUS FOR PRINTING R LIKE MACHINES William Frank Golding, 22 Parrys Close, Stoke Bishop, Bristol 9, England Filed Feb. 25, 1958, Ser. No. 717,462

Claims priority, application Great Britain Feb. 28, 1957 '10 Claims. (Cl. 271-64) This invention relates to delivery apparatus for printing or like machines.

It is known to provide delivery apparatus wherein printed or otherwise Worked sheets are sequentially moved by a conveying means into a release position there to be released from the conveying means and to be deposed on a pile. Sheets so being deposed are normally not accessible for inspection when the apparatus is working because the apparatus extends in close proximity with the top of the pile. Yet it is often desirable to make a sample inspection of the sheets without having to stop the apparatus.

The main object of this invention is to provide means facilitating such sample inspection while the apparatus is working.

It is also an object of this invention to provide an proved means for releasing sheets from said conveying means.

According to this invention I provide sheet delivery apparatus for printing or like machines comprising conveyor means for conveying a sheet from the machine and release means for releasing the sheet selectively at one or other of two release positions spaced apart along the line of travel of the conveying means and defining an upstream and a downstream release position, respectively.

The one release position is intended for the release of sheets onto a pile. By virtue of the spacing apart of the two positions, a sheet released in the other release position does not register with the pile and is therefore conveniently available for removal from the apparatus and thus for inspection.

One form of apparatusaccording to this invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a sectionalelevation of the apparatus.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line II-II in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a partly sectioned detail plan of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a detail of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings there is provided a side frame 1 in which is journalled a sprocket shaft 2 to which is secured a sprocket 4 for an endless conveyor chain 4 provided with a gripping device 5 comprising a bar or common lower jaw 6 having secured thereto a leaf spring or upper jaw 7, a lever 8 pivoted to the bar 6 being adapted to flex and thus open the jaw 7 thereby to release a sheet 9 gripped between the jaw 7 and the bar 6.

It is to be understood that the side frame 1 is one of two opposite side frames supporting the shaft 2 between them; that the chain 4 is one of two such chains supporting the gripping device 5 between them; that the jaw 7 and lever 8 are each one of a plurality of such jaws and levers provided along the bar 6; and that a plurality of gripping devices 5 are provided at intervals along the chain 4 which is driven with an intermittent-motion for successive gripping devices to stop when arrivingat the sprocket 3; all for example as disclosed in my U.S. application Serial No. 698,264.

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' the side frame 1.

The sprocket 3 defines a rotor driven by the chain 4 and in turn driving the gripper operating member or lever 11. The are of engagement between the chain 4 and the sprocket 3 defines the end of the delivery run and the beginning of the return run of the chain 4, i.e. the sheet 9 is released from the gripping device 5 while the latter is situated on an arcuate path through which it passesin accordance with said are of engagement between the chain'4 and the sprocket 3. The diameter of the sprocket 3 is so related to the spacing of successive gripping devices *5 along the chain 4 that the sprocket 3 makes one revolution for the passage of each gripping device 5 through said arcuate path, and the angular position of the sprocket 3 is so related to the gripping devices 5 that as each gripping device 5 passes through its arcuate path the lever 11 passes on the inside thereof in juxtaposition with the gripping device 5. In other words, the sprocket 3 cooperates to guide the lever 11 through an arcuate path in juxtaposition with the gripping device 5. As willbe described hereinafter, means are provided for releasing the sheet 9 from the gripping device 5 while the latter is situated in one or other of two positions spaced apart along its line of travel through said arcuate path, i.e. the juxtaposed journey of the gripping device 5 and lever 11 includes the two release positions of the gripping device 5. Having regard to the direction of travel of the gripping device 5 as indicated by the arrow 43, the release positions arereferred to as the downstream release position indicated by a radial centre line 46 and as the upstream release position indicated by a radial centre line 47 (Fig. 1

The drawings show the apparatus in the position when the sheet 9 is released in the position 47 of the gripping device 5.

As aforesaid, the intermittent motion of the chain-4 causes the gripping device 5 to stand still when situated adjacent the sprocket 3. In the present construction, the

intermittent motion of the chain 4 is timed for the gripping device 5 to stop in the position 47. In conseqence, the grippingdevice is in motion when situated in the position 46, and account is taken of these circumstances in the construction of the'cam 16 and of means, to be described, for supporting the gripping device 5 when acted upon by thelever 11.

Thecam 16 comprises an inner track 17, an outer concentric track 18 and a movable outer cam member 19 pivoted on a pin 20 secured to side frame 1. The inner track 17 is provided with recesses 21, 22 respectively facing lobes 23, 24 provided on the member 19. The member 19 is connected by a link 25 to a lever 26 pivoted at one end to a rod 27 secured to the side frame 1 and connected at the other end through a connecting rod 28 to an eccentric 29 provided on a shaft 30 journalled in the side frame 1 and having secured thereto a hand lever 31. The arrangement is such that reciprocation of the hand lever 31 through causes the member 19 to be pivoted so that the lobes 23, 24 are alternately withdrawn from or moved into the operative position. The drawings show the lobe 23 in the operative position and projecting from the track 18 inwardly towards the-recess 21 While the lobe 24 is withdrawn to a position behind 0 the outer track 18.

Duringrotationof thesprocket 4, the lever 14 is piv oted by engagement of the roller 15 with the track cam 16, and the drawings show the roller 15 as just having been moved to effect release of the sheet 9 by negagement with the recess 21 and the lobe 23, i.e. the sheet 9 is released while the gripping device is in the downstream release position 46.

Further, there is provided a bracket 32 pivoted at one end to the rod 27 and connected at the other end through a connecting rod 33 to an eccentric 34 provided on the shaft 30. The bracket 32 has journalled thereto three rollers 35 so positioned that, in the illustrated position of the bracket 32, the rollers 35 form an arcuate support track or support member (centered on the shaft 2) for the bar 6 to support the bar 6 against deflection under the pressure of the lever 11. When the hand lever 31 is pivoted through 180' from the illustrated position, the rollers 35 are withdrawn from their supporting position in respect of the bar 6.

A shaft 36 journalled in the side frame 1 has secured thereto a roll 37 positioned to grip the sheet 9 between itself and a roll segment 38 secured to the shaft 2. The shafts 2, 36 are geared together by gear wheels 41, 42 dimensioned to ensure equal circumferential speeds for the roll 37 and segment 38. The commencing and terminating portions of the segment 38 are denoted 39 and 40, respectively.

In operation, rotation of the shaft 2 in the direction of the arrow 43 causes the sheet 9 to remain inertially behind the moving gripping device 5, the length of the recess 21 and lobe 23 ensuring that the gripping device 5 is clear of the sheet 9 before the spring 7 is closed again when the roller has passed the recess 21 and lobe 23 and the gripping device 5 has passed the rollers providing support for the bar 6 against deflection under the press of the lever 11.

Having been released from the gripping device 5, the leading portion of the sheet 9 falls downwardly and to the right, and shortly thereafter the commencing portion 39 of the roll 38 engages the sheet 9 between itself and the roll 37 whereby the sheet 9 is forwarded in the direction of the arrow 44 on to a table 45 secured to the side frame 1. The position of the sheet 9 being so forwarded is indicated at 9a.

If the hand lever 31 is rotated through 180 the lever 14 is pivoted accordingly by engagement of the roller 15 between the recess 22 and lobe 24 of the track cam 16. In that case, the sheet 9 is released in the position 47 of the gripping device 5 and falls onto a pile 48.

It will be seen that the cam 16 through its track member 19 provides a means settable for releasing a sheet from the gripping device 5 alternatively at the positions 46 or 47, the positions adopted by the sheet on the pile 48 or on the table 45 defining delivered positions respectively adopted by the sheet 9 in accordance whether it was released at the position 47 or 46 of the gripping device 5.

The lever 31 is normally set for successive gripping devices 5 provided on the chains 4 to release the sheets in the position 47, and when it is desired to take out one, or a few sheets for inspection, the lever 31 is moved to the illustrated position whereupon the sheets are delivered on to the table 45.

The roll 37 and segment 38 define an auxiliary conveying means for conveying the sheet 9 away from the proximity of the sprocket 3 which would not be safely accessible during operation. Also, the roll 37 is situated to define a support member for the gripping device 5 whenin the position 47.

In an alternative construction (not illustrated) said cam member 19 is dispensed with and there is provided a track cam comprising only one lobe in the outer track and one corresponding recess in the inner track. The track cam is supported on the side frame for pivotal movement about the axis of the concentric part of the tracks between two positions so that the same lobe and recess are used for releasing the sheet at either of said positions 46, 47

of the gripping device 5. To efi'ect the pivotal movement of the track cam, the latter may be secured to a shaft connected to a hand lever. Alternatively, the hand lever is connected by a link to a point on the track cam off-set from the pivotal centre thereof so that pivoting of the lever causes the track cam to pivot correspondingly.

The side frame 1 forms an outrigger frame extending from said press and overhanging the pile 48. Since the apparatus is concentrated at the shaft 2, a considerable part of the outrigger frame is free from any delivery apparatus and may therefore be provided with substantial openings giving access to the space above the pile 48. A tunnel having walls made of a transparent material may be provided between the upper and lower runs of the chains 4, the open end of the tunnel registering with the opening in the side frame. An operator may then look through the opening and through the walls of the tunnel and view the sheets as they are being delivered on to the pile 48.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Sheet delivery apparatus for printing or like machines comprising two parallel endless chains, a plurality of bars extending transversely between the chains and connected thereto at regular intervals, each bar being provided with jaws for gripping a sheet, a pair of axially spaced apart sprockets over which the chains are trained, means for moving the chains thereby to move the bars sequentially past the sprockets through an arcuate path corresponding to the lie of the chains around the sprockets, a gripper operating member connected to the sprockets, in a position off-set from the axis of rotation thereof, the sprockets being dimensioned to make one revolution for the passage therearound of each bar and the gripper operating member being positioned for the successive bars to travel in juxtaposition with the gripper operating member when passing through said arcuate path, the gripper operating member being supported for movement between an operative and an inoperative position and cooperating to open the jaws when moved into the operative position, and a stationary cam positioned to engage the gripper operating member and to move the gripper operating member from said inoperative to said operative position and back during each revolution of said sprocket, the movement of the gripper operating member to the operative position being timed to take place during said travel of the gripper operating member in juxtaposition with said bars.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a support member is positioned on the outside of said arcuate path there to support the bars against deflection under the action of said operating members.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, said support member comprising a roll positioned parallel to said axis.

4. Apparatus according to claim 2, said support member comprising at least two rollers positioned to define an arcuate track for supporting the bars whilst in motion.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1, said gripper operating member comprising a rocker shaft connected to said sprockets for pivotal motion about an axis off-set from and parallel to the axis of the sprockets, an extension secured to the rocker shaft defining a cam follower and positioned to co-operate with said cam means to pivot the rocker shaft, a further extension secured to the rocker shaft and positioned to act on said jaws and co-operate therewith to release a sheet when the rocker shaft is pivoted.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1, said jaws comprising in respect of each bar a plurality of leaf springs connected to the bar and defining individual upper jaws, the bar defining a common lower jaw, and wherein there is provided in respect of each upper jaw a lever pivoted to the bar and co-operating to open the upper jaw to release a sheet gripped thereby when the lever is pivoted, the gripper operating member being dimensioned to engage and pivot the levers when being moved by said cam means into its operative position.

7. Apparatus according to claim 1, comprising means for opening the jaws selectively when the bar is situated in one or other of two positions spaced apart along its direction of travel in said arcuate path and defining an up stream and a down stream position respectively.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7, comprising means for engaging a sheet released in said down stream position and removing the sheet from its position at said arcuate path in a direction substantially tangential thereto.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8, comprising a first roll situated in parallelism with the axis of said sprockets in a position up stream of said downstream release position, a second roll connected to the sprockets concentrically therewith, the rolls being dimensioned to cooperate circumferentially to engage and remove the sheet as aforesaid, means being provided for limiting the commencement of the co-operation between the rolls to a time after the sheet is released.

10. Apparatus according to claim 8 comprising a table positioned to receive a sheet removed as aforesaid.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,406,936 Woodrufi Sept. 3, 1946 2,497,149 Berdis et a1 Feb. 14, 1950 2,499,840 Trump Mar. 7, 1950 2,673,735 Niles et a1. Mar. 30, 1954 2,737,885 Persson et a1. Mar. 13, 1956 

